Missouri woman was rocking out at a concert, then she was kicked by a crowdsurfer, 10 days later she was dead

A 28-year-old Missouri woman has passed away following a tragic incident that triggered an underlying health issue. Danielle Uskiwich, who worked as a secretary at Hardin Middle School, was attending the Pointfest rock and heavy metal music festival on May 16. In the middle of a performance by the band Sleep Theory, she was accidentally kicked in the head by a crowd surfer. 

According to PEOPLE, the situation escalated rapidly into a life-threatening medical crisis. Her friend Angela shared with KSDK News that Uskiwich called her mother after the concert to report that she was suffering from headaches. By May 19, the pain had become severe enough that she was admitted to the hospital.

The journey that followed was incredibly intense for her family and loved ones. As noted on the GoFundMe page for Uskiwich, “What initially seemed like an unfortunate accident quickly became something much more serious. After testing, doctors discovered a brain bleed that was likely caused by the impact from the concert incident.” The medical team worked tirelessly to manage her condition, but she faced further complications shortly after being admitted.

“She had the kindest heart, a beautiful smile, and a spirit that could light up any room”

According to the GoFundMe page, her condition worsened significantly. “While hospitalized, Danielle suffered her first stroke early Thursday morning, resulting in weakness and deficiencies on her right side. Then, on Friday morning, she suffered a second stroke and was rushed into emergency surgery to remove a clot from her brain. During surgery, doctors removed approximately six pints of blood along with additional clots.” 

To help her body recover and manage the swelling in her brain, she was placed into a medically induced coma. Her family had initially expressed hope that the incident at the festival might have just been a step to discovering a deeper, previously unknown health issue. 

The situation ultimately led to a tragic outcome. Her family announced on May 26 that she had died. While they confirmed her passing, they did not publicly release a specific cause of death.

The impact of her loss is being felt deeply by her community and her workplace. Hardin Middle School shared a touching tribute on Facebook, noting that she was a dedicated employee who built strong relationships with students and staff alike. 

She was also a passionate supporter of the St. Louis Blues and was actively preparing for her upcoming wedding to her fiancé, Jason Wright. Her friend Angela spoke to the depth of their bond, telling KSDK News, “You hear about people who are soul mates, and they were.”

In a final act of generosity, Uskiwich’s family chose to donate her organs. Following her passing, she was moved to Mid-America Transplant in St. Louis to begin the donation process. 

The update on her GoFundMe page described the final moments, stating, “It is with absolutely shattered hearts that we share that our beautiful Danielle passed away on May 26th at 1:54 PM. Even through unimaginable grief, Danielle’s immediate family made the incredibly selfless decision to honor her giving spirit through organ donation so that others may have a second chance at life.”

At 3:30 PM on that same day, she was taken through an honor walk surrounded by her loved ones and the hospital staff, something the family described as a reflection of her character. On the 31st of May, per KSDK, her friends and family gathered to celebrate her, and to clarify that she didn’t die because of the accident.

Her best friend Courtney Neisler said. “The kick actually was kind of a blessing in disguise in kind of a weird way. The kick is what sent her to the hospital, and that is what showed that she already had an underlying issue, and without that kick, we wouldn’t have gotten to say goodbye to her.”

The GoFundMe page captured the essence of who she was, noting, “Danielle was loved by so many. She had the kindest heart, a beautiful smile, and a spirit that could light up any room, and she was the kind of person people naturally gravitated toward because of her warmth, humor, and the way she made others feel seen and loved.”

Consistent reports show just how dangerous a brain bleed and stroke can be. Last year, Jamie Fox managed to survive a medical crisis when he developed a brain bleed. An 11-year-old also survived after a playground accident led to a brain bleed and stroke.